35

Missy’s Point of View

The morning sunlight streamed gently through the blinds, casting soft golden lines across the floor.

For a moment, I just stood there at the door, my fist frozen mid-air as if unsure whether to knock again or walk away.

But I didn’t want to walk away.

I had already knocked once.

Twice, actually. My knuckles hovered near the wooden frame again.

God, what am I even doing?

I bit my lower lip and finally knocked a third time. Softer this time. Almost hesitant.

I knew Nico wasn’t around he’d left early that morning, saying something vague about being busy and needing to “take care of a few things.” He hadn’t told me what exactly, and I hadn’t pressed.

Part of me didn’t want to seem clingy.

The other part? Maybe it was too distracted by the fact that Alexander was here. Back. Under the same roof again.

Mark had gone out with his friends, and the rest of the house was unusually quiet.

It felt weird how normal things looked while everything inside me felt so uncertain.

I just wanted to talk to Alexander.

Maybe spend some time with him. Maybe understand what changed. Or maybe I missed him more than I was willing to admit.

The door opened a few seconds later, creaking softly, and there he was.

Alexander.

Hair slightly messy, a gray hoodie on, his eyes still heavy with sleep. He looked surprised to see me.

“Missy?”

“Uh hey,” I said, managing a small smile. “Sorry if I woke you.”

He rubbed his eyes and leaned against the doorframe. “Nah, I was already up. Just didn’t expect company.”

I laughed lightly, nervously. “I just I don’t know, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out. Maybe go somewhere? Get something to eat?”

He blinked at me, clearly caught off guard. “You and me?”

I nodded, my hands behind my back. “If you’re not busy.”

He paused, eyes scanning my face, like he was trying to figure out what this was about. Like he thought there was something I wasn’t saying.

“You sure Nico’s cool with that?” he asked, half teasing, half serious.

I shrugged. “He’s not around. Besides, we’re just friends, right?”

That word friends it felt heavy in the air.

Alexander finally smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Alright then. Give me five minutes.”

I stepped back as he closed the door. My heart thudded in my chest, and I told myself it was just nerves. Nothing more.

Five minutes later, we were out the door.

The city was alive in its usual chaotic rhythm horns blaring in the distance, people crossing streets with earbuds in, the sun casting a heat that made the sidewalks shimmer.

We walked quietly for a while. Not awkward, just silent.

Like both of us were still figuring out what to say.

Eventually, we ended up at a small smoothie bar tucked into the corner of a quiet street.

It was the kind of place we used to go to before everything got complicated. Before he left. Before Nico.

“I can’t believe this place is still here,” I said as we sat at one of the tables outside.

Alexander nodded, sipping from his drink. “They haven’t even changed the menu.”

I smiled, remembering how he used to always order banana strawberry with extra chia seeds. He still did.

“So,” he said after a moment, leaning back in his chair, “why’d you really come to my door this morning?”

I blinked, surprised by the directness. “What do you mean?”

He tilted his head. “You’re with Nico. Things seem serious. Yet you’re here with me.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “I just wanted to spend time with you. You’re back, and we haven’t talked much.”

Alexander’s gaze softened. “I’m not trying to push, Missy. I just don’t want to be the reason you and Nico”

He trailed off, and I swallowed.

“You’re not,” I said quickly. “I mean, you didn’t come back for me, right?”

He didn’t answer.

The silence was too loud. His fingers tapped the side of his cup, his eyes suddenly focused on the table.

“Did you?” I asked again, voice quieter.

“I came back for a lot of reasons,” he said, finally meeting my gaze. “You were one of them.”

My breath hitched.

He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “But I’m not here to mess things up. I just I had to come back. There’s something I need to fix.”

“Fix?” I asked.

Alexander looked at me, a storm behind those eyes.

“Missy there’s something you don’t know. And when the time’s right, I’ll tell you. But I need you to know no matter what happens I never meant to hurt you.”

I stared at him, heart pounding. “You’re scaring me.”

“I don’t mean to,” he said softly.

He stood up suddenly, tossing his empty cup into the trash nearby. “Come on, let’s walk.”

We walked for a while again. Down streets filled with faces we didn’t recognize, past trees that swayed with the wind.

He didn’t say another word, and I didn’t push.

I was left with the same strange feeling I had last night.

He was back.

But so was the mystery.